Needing a replacement for backup goalie Josh Harding, the Minnesota Wild reportedly acquired the services of Jose Theodore. However, Theodore will remain in North America and won't be with the team for its European swing.

Word of the signing came Friday from a Montreal radio station and was picked up by Canada's TSN media group. Reports say Theodore signed a one-year, $1.1 million accord.

Jose Theodore had plenty of victories the past two seasons with the Capitals. He will get a chance as the Wild's backup goalie. AP

Wild beat reporter Mike Russo of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune noted the story on his Twitter account, with a post from coach Todd Richards. "Waiting for [GM Chuck] Fletcher to awake to confirm Theodore signing, but he went to bed not knowing if Theodore said yes. Appears he has," Richard wrote. Added Russo: Richards "doesn't have confirmation yet. Just said it was in works last night when they went to bed."

The Wild are set with Niklas Backstrom as their No. 1 goalie but lost Harding in the preseason to a blown right knee. Harding likely won't play this season. For now, the team has Anton Khudobin behind Backstrom. It is finishing its exhibition schedule in Scandinavia and will play two games in Helsinki, Finland, against the Carolina Hurricanes to open the season.

Theodore, 34, was 30-7-7 with the Washington Capitals last season, finishing with a 2.81 goals-against average and one shutout in 47 games. He also won 30 games for the Caps in 2008-09, but lost his job to Semyon Varlamov. The Capitals cast him off to go with Varlomov and fellow young netminder Michal Neuvirth.

A standout early in his career with the Montreal Canadiens, Theodore received by the Vezina Trophy as top goalie and Hart Trophy as MVP after the 2001-02 season. However, his career hit the skids and he made his way to the Colorado Avalanche, where he failed to hold the No. 1 job.

The Wild assigned Theodore to AHL Houston until they return from two games against the Hurricanes in Europe.